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ETCC Race 1 flash: Kralev wins after title contenders clash

08/10/2017 11:32

Bulgarian Plamen Kralev scored his maiden victory in the FIA European Touring Car Cup by climbing from fourth on the grid to win the first encounter of the FIA ETCC Race of Most in the Czech Republic on Sunday morning.

But the victory for the Kraf Racing Audi RS3 LMS only followed drama between championship contenders Petr Fulín, Norbert Nagy and Igor Stefanovski.

Following a delayed start because of the threat of rainfall that never materialised, the Rikli Motorsport Honda Civic of Schreiber took the lead only for the Swiss to slip off the track at Turn 1. That left Nagy, Fulín and Stefanovski to battle for the lead.

At the start of lap two Fulín made a move for the lead at Turn 1 on Nagy and made it stick, and now the trio began to build a gap to the rest of the field which was led by a recovering Schreiber and Kralev.

The turning point of the race came on lap seven when Stefanovski in his SEAT León Cup Racer passed Nagy on the outside of Turn 1, then punted hard into Fulín as they negotiated Turn 2. When they had sorted themselves out from the corner, Stefanovski now led from Nagy and the battered SEAT of Fulín.

But inevitably Stefanovski had to pay for his move. He was handed a drive-through penalty, which dropped him to eighth and out of title contention with Race 2 to come.

After the incident, Kralev closed in on the top three having already got past Schreiber, and found his way around both Nagy and Fulín. With Stefanovski out of the picture, the Audi driver was all clear to claim a great first win in the ETCC, as Nagy and Fulín completed the podium.

Schreiber was able to finish fourth, which keeps him in mathematical contention for the 2017 FIA ETCC crown ahead of what looks certain to be a thrilling season climax in Race 2. Fulín now has 70 points, three ahead of Nagy, with Schreiber a further three behind.

Race 2 of the FIA ETCC Race of Most takes place at 12h30 local time. It will be shown live on Eurosport 1 and streamed as it happens at FIAETCC.com.

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Petr Fulín ensured he was crowned the 2017 FIA European Touring Car Cup winner with a comfortable home victory in the second encounter at ETCC Race of Most in the Czech Republic earlier today (Sunday).

Petr Fulín ensured he was crowned the 2017 FIA European Touring Car Cup winner with a comfortable home victory in the second encounter at ETCC Race of Most in the Czech Republic earlier today (Sunday).

Petr Fulín ensured he was crowned champion of the 2017 FIA European Touring Car Cup by scoring a comfortable home victory in the second encounter of the FIA ETCC Race of Most in the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Petr Fulín ensured he was crowned champion of the 2017 FIA European Touring Car Cup by scoring a comfortable home victory in the second encounter of the FIA ETCC Race of Most in the Czech Republic on Sunday.

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